The REV Test: How to buy a car. Online vs supermarket vs boutique

Buying a car is a big thing to do; it's likely to be the second biggest purchase you'll ever make. So if you're a bit baffled by the whole process, don't know where to start, or just want a bit more information on the different places you can buy a car, this week's REV Test is for you.

There’s a lot to think about when it comes to buying your next car. One of the first things to consider is, where do you want to buy it from: online, a dealership, a car supermarket, or even a boutique store next to a shoe shop at your nearby mall.

There are more options than ever, so if you’re a bit nervous about the whole process, or just don’t know where to start, this week’s REV takes you through the car buying process at Seat’s store in the Westfield shopping centre, Carshop’s car supermarket in Swindon, and online on the Auto Trader website.

Believe it or not we’re already on to series two. Our three experienced motoring journos are back: racing driver Vicki Butler-Henderson, Millennial Rachael Hogg, and mum Erin Baker (REV!) are testing three of the UK's most popular first cars – the Skoda Citigo, Hyundai i10 and Toyota Aygo. Watch the first episode.

There are around nine million dogs kept as pets in the UK. That means there are a lot of families in need of a dog-friendly car. This week Rachael, Erin and Vicki look at three of the best. Both the Volvo V90 and Land Rover Discovery come with bags of space and a plethora of dog-friendly optional extras, such as protective cages, harnesses and carriers. The Honda Civic, meanwhile, was named as the Best Car for Dog Owners in Auto Trader’s 2018 New Car Awards, as voted for by almost 40,000 car owners who rated their car in 16 key areas. Watch the third episode.

Not that long ago most car manufacturers only offered petrol or diesel cars. But today, the choice of power sources now includes environmentally-focused ones, including some with zero emissions. What will be the future fuel of choice be, and what are the pros and cons of each? This week the ladies compare fuel types, with a petrol, plug-in hybrid, and an electric car. Watch the eighth episode.

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